7000 Buyers Will Soon Avoid Traffic by Pulling a Personal Aircraft out of Their Xpeng EV Van
Car and Driver
February 22, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
EV manufacturer Xpeng is set to revolutionize urban mobility with its innovative Land Aircraft Carrier, a six-wheeled electric van equipped with a deployable six-rotor drone. This groundbreaking vehicle, designed for future production in late 2026, combines the practicality of an extended-range EV (offering up to 600 miles per charge) with the ability to launch an autonomous or manually operated aircraft from its cargo area. The drone, which can ferry a single occupant, is stored and recharged within the van, making it a potential game-changer for avoiding traffic congestion. While regulatory hurdles remain, Xpeng has already secured 7,000 pre-orders, signaling significant interest in this futuristic solution to urban transportation challenges.
The concept of integrating air travel into daily commutes has long been a vision of science fiction, but Xpeng’s Land Aircraft Carrier brings it closer to reality. The vehicle’s design allows for seamless rotor deployment and retrieval, with features like folding rotors and one-touch activation simplifying the process. While regulatory questions—such as licensing requirements for pilots or drone operators—loom over its global potential, the technology itself represents a bold step forward in mobility innovation. Xpeng is taking this seriously, with plans to train its management team to fly the aircraft.
The Land Aircraft Carrier also highlights the growing convergence of automotive and aerospace technologies, offering a glimpse into what future transportation might look like. While flying cars remain a distant reality, Xpeng’s solution provides a practical alternative for those stuck in traffic. The van’s ability to bypass ground congestion with an aerial escape not only addresses the pain point of urban gridlock but also positions it as a unique mobility option for adventurous early adopters. As other companies, like California-based Pivotal Aero, explore similar drone-based solutions, Xpeng’s Land Aircraft Carrier stands out as one of the most ambitious attempts to redefine how
Verticals
automotivetech
Originally published on Car and Driver on 2/22/2026